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This municipality either calmly welcomes or bids you goodbye along one of the flight line of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport. The municipality is part of Metro Cebu but unlike the nearby cities, this town kept its rural vibe. It was like we were being transported to the countryside of the province. A small town sandwiched by urban development but still manages to keep its rural vibe at the helm - this is the town of Cordova.  Exploring another Cebu municipality that is close to the city. Cordova, or Cordoba, is a quiet fishing town on the island of Mactan. It was created as a municipality 1864 and it is believed that its name meant “stark nakedness and bare”. Its name is also believed to be in honor of Governor-General Echague who created the town. He previously represented the Spanish province of Cordoba in the Spanish Congress. The sleepy town is an unassuming destination, living under the shadows of the more popular Lapu-Lapu City. But do not be deceived by its serene vibe, it can give quite a rustic travel experience for those who go beyond the bridge and ten thousand roses. Cebu-Cordova Bridge More popularly called the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway, it is the third bridge that traverses the Mactan Channel and connects Cebu Mainland and the island of Mactan. It now stands as the longest bridge in the Philippines that spans over a body of water. It runs a total length of 8.9 kilometers from South Road Properties in Cebu City to Cordova. It was started construction in 2017 and was inaugurated in 2022 by Former President Rodrigo Duterte.  Enjoying an afternoon cruise at the longest bridge of the Philippines. CCLEx is now an attraction for both Cebu City and Cordova. Just like most people who visit Cebu, I have traversed the bridge a couple of times. My best traverse was on habal-habal while enjoying the afternoon sun. It is a beautiful sight to look at from the shores of Cordova where you get a view of the bridge with the cityscape view of Cebu. Cordova Church and Convent The Cordova Church, also known as the San Roque Church, was officially recognized as a separate parish in 1864. Its patron saint, St. Roque of Montpeller, France was a victim of leprosy. At the time of the church’s installation, Cordoba was home of many lepers. The creation of the church paved the way for the Christianism of this side of Mactan Island.  The San Roque Parish Church of Cordova stands out with its Moorish-style architecture. The present structure was rebuilt in 1924, decades after the original church was destroyed by a typhoon. The structure stands out with its Moorish-style architecture with two columns on both sides of the facade. It creates an impression of strength when viewed from the outside. Its interior, in contrast, is softer in tone with its stained-glass window pulpit. It is void of those huge retablos that is common in the province.
The sprawling church compound is also void of religious images which makes you focus on the beauty of the church. The convent sits adjacent to it, still showing its age and still in use. A bust of Father Chevalier was mounted along the perimeter of the convent to honor the Father of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. Through the decades, the church continues to be a sanctuary for Cordovanons, not only spiritually, but also during times of calamity. Cordova Municipal Hall and Park Not far from the church stands the Cordova Municipal Hall and Park. The compound serves as the center of governance of Cordova. It houses the local government offices that provide basic services to Cordovanons. It has kept its old-time charm with its old structures fused with modern structures.
The compound is also home to its local museum housed in the old municipal hall of the town. It serves as the town’s repository of its past. Unfortunately, the museum was closed at the time of our visit so we were not able to explore its exhibits. Cordova RORO Port Just a few minutes away from the town center, The Cordova RORO Port serves as the town’s connection to nearby islands. It also serves as the jump-off point for island-hopping activities for tourists. The facilities are now being upgraded to give guests and locals the ease and convenience when traveling.
The port gives you an amazing 360-degree view of its surrounding areas. The towering resorts of Lapu-Lapu on one side contrasts the mangrove covers on the opposite side. You get to catch planes on their final approach on the west side and enjoy the sea views on the east side. The area is also a favorite hang-out spot of locals and tourists in the afternoon when the strip turns into a food park. Bantayan Bay Port Bantayan is Cordova’s secret local spot. It is a port area where local fishermen dock their boats that turn into a beach spot when the tides are low. And yes, weekends are usually busy when locals flock to the area to enjoy the sun, sand, beach.
This local beach spot reveals its rustic beauty during the low tide when its sandbars pop out of the sea. You can choose to wade through waist-deep waters as you hop from one sandbar to another as you find your own spot. There are no picnic huts and tables in the area. There are a line of mangrove trees along the sandbar where you can have a picnic. For those who don’t want to get wet, they can opt to hire a small bangka to bring you to your sandbar of choice.
The Bantayan Bay area lies along the vast mangrove covers of Cordova. Our guide shared with us that they offer tours around the mangrove areas but you can only do it during the high tide. A small lighthouse stands along the entrance of the port, adding more drama to its seascape. Floating cottages once operated in the area but it was later shut by the local government due to concerns on proper waste disposal. Cordova Coastal Area The Cordova coastal area flourishes with mangrove covers with about 100 hectares of cover. Traversing through an unfinished road network, we got a view of the beauty of the coastal area of Cordova. The low tide showed us the dramatic seascape of the town.
The unfinished or ongoing road project is a great place to hangout. There are small shops along the road where you can buy snacks and then find your spot to enjoy them. We found ours where there were ruins of a house that once stood there. It was visually appealing with the limestone rocks and mangrove covers in the background. We enjoyed the view while enjoying the cool breeze from the sea. 10,000 Roses Cafe Apart from CCLEx, the 10,000 Roses Cafe is another tourist attraction that is included in the day tours around Cebu City. The sprawling attraction is complete with restaurants, cafe, and souvenir shop that attracts hundreds of tourists daily. It gets usually crowded in the late afternoon and evening where you get to witness the 10,000 roses “bloom” with its led lights. Since it is an attraction in Cebu, you can expect to catch the thousand roses with the crowd.
The cafe offers an amazing view of the CCLEx and the Mactan Channel with the cityscape of Cebu City in the background. It is also a perfect sunset spot giving you front seat views of the sun setting along the mountains of the Cebu. You also get to enjoy the views of planes arriving and leaving as it lies along the flight line of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport. Once you are in luck to find a spot, just enjoy the skyline views and the breeze from the small town of Cordova. POST TRAVEL NOTES Cordova is a rustic town that has managed to keep its low profile despite having destinations that attract the crowds. There is no doubt that development and attention was pushed forward to this town after the construction and inauguration of the CCLEx. It brought new opportunities in and around the bridge. It also gave the town a new breath that could, hopefully, bring sustainable development and wealth to Cordova.  We are exploring another PH province next!!! Small towns often yield local secrets that often hide behind the shadows of more popular attractions. A change or development gives these attractions new pair of eyes that admire its beauty. Sometimes it goes on to becoming popular while others continue to remain lowkey. Whatever the case maybe, these attractions bring a different experience to guests. It is this experience that makes the destination unique. Check out my Cordova adventure on my Youtube Travel Channel:
#MahalinNatinAngPilipinas Getting there: There are direct flights, from major local and international airports, to Cebu’s gateway - the Mactan-Cebu International Airport. You can take a cab from the airport to the Cordova Church where you can hire electric trikes to go around these Cordova destinations. For e-trike tours around Cordova, you can reach Kuya Daryl at (0970) 778 9177. You can contact Kuya Sito for Bantayan Mangrove Tours at (0910) 479 0094. Shoutout to my travel buddies - HULL & STERN Dry Bags for keeping my stuff safe and dry during my travels and MAGWAI for their alternative and eco-friendly products for my local travels.
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Marc del Rosario
I believe in education, entrepreneurship, and caring for the environment. 
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